Sculpture will memorialize fallen Perth Amboy police officer

PERTH AMBOY -- The only Perth Amboy police officer killed in the line of duty is not likely to be forgotten. Neither is his dog.

A bronze sculpture of Thomas E. Raji and his pet Rottweiler will be placed in front of police headquarters, likely by the end of the year. The piece will depict Raji sitting on a stoop with his dog. Behind them will stand St. Michael, the patron saint of police, holding the scales of justice in one hand and a police badge in the other.

Raji, 31, was killed on Aug. 22, 2008, when he and Officer Matthew Mercurio were transporting a prisoner to the Middlesex County jail in North Brunswick around 3:45 a.m. Their cruiser, a 2005 Crown Victoria, was broadsided by a Nissan Altima crossing Route 1 at Green Street in Woodbridge.

Raji, the driver and a 10-year veteran of the force, was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

In June, Sean McGurick, 24, of the Colonia section of Woodbridge, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, assault by auto for injuring the prisoner and Murcurio, and driving under the influence. A blood-alcohol testing on McGuirck gave a reading of 0.107 percent, above the .08 legal limit.

Raji's widow, Marisol, a Perth Amboy police officer herself, was several months pregnant when her husband was killed. She said Raji was an animal lover. He had a pet Rottweiler, Rocky, who died shortly before her husband.

"They were inseparable," she said. "The piece is a great honor. It will be a constant reminder about who my husband was ... I can keep my husband's memory alive forever."

The piece, called "Saint Michael Watch Over Us," was designed by sculptor Brian Hanlon of Toms River.

He said the bronze piece will weigh about 5,000 pounds and will be 17-feet-tall and 5-feet-wide. Hanlon said he sculpted Raji based on photos from his wedding. A live Rottweiler was brought into the studio for Hanlon to model the dog after.

Perth Amboy Council President Peter Jimenez, said Raji, who was his son-in-law, was fond of animals. He recalled a time weeks before Raji's death, when the family was vacationing in Puerto Rico. Jimenez said Raji felt sorry for all of the homeless dogs who wandered the streets.

"One time he went for fast food, finished what he was eating, and took the leftovers in the bag," said Jimenez. "He gave it to the dogs he saw wandering."

The sculpture cost $150,000, and is being funded by donations.

Police Capt. Ben Ruiz said only $75,000 has been collected so far. He said several businesses have contributed to the fund, and several policemen have taken payroll deductions to help.

"This is something that shows the world that we'll never forget," Ruiz said. "The memorial is also for any fallen officer in the future. If we're lucky, no one will be added on it."